If you’re scrambling to figure out what time is the lakers game today, you probably already know that the NBA schedule can be a total nightmare to keep track of—especially when the team is traveling. Today, Saturday, January 17, 2026, the Los Angeles Lakers are heading up the coast to face the Portland Trail Blazers at the Moda Center.
The game tips off at 7:00 PM PST.
For the East Coast crowd, that’s a late-night 10:00 PM EST start. If you’re like me and your internal clock is already screaming for sleep by the fourth quarter, you might want to brew an extra pot of coffee. This isn't just another game; it's the final regular-season meeting between these two, and the vibes in the Lakers locker room are... well, they're complicated.
Lakers vs. Blazers: Game Time and Broadcast Info
Honestly, missing the first five minutes of a game because you can’t find the right channel is the worst. Tonight’s matchup is being broadcast on Spectrum SportsNet LA for the local folks and NBA TV for the national audience. If you’re in the Portland area, it’ll be on KUNP.
👉 See also: Eastern Conference Finals 2024: What Most People Get Wrong
Streaming is also an option via Fubo or the NBA League Pass, though blackouts are still the bane of our existence in 2026.
Quick Details for Tonight
- Date: Saturday, January 17, 2026
- Tip-off: 7:00 PM PST / 10:00 PM EST
- Venue: Moda Center, Portland, Oregon
- Radio: ESPN LA 710 / 1330 KWKW
The Lakers are currently sitting at 24-15. That sounds decent on paper, right? But they’ve lost eight of their last thirteen games. They’re essentially a ship taking on water, and the injury report isn't helping.
The Luka-Sized Hole in the Lineup
Here’s the kicker: Luka Doncic is out. The team confirmed on Friday that Luka will miss his eighth game of the season due to left groin soreness. It’s a massive blow. When you're used to a guy putting up league-leading numbers (33.6 points per game!), losing him feels like trying to run a marathon with one shoe. The Lakers are 3-4 this season without him.
✨ Don't miss: Texas vs Oklahoma Football Game: Why the Red River Rivalry is Getting Even Weirder
But it’s not just Luka. Austin Reaves is still sidelined with that nasty grade 2 calf strain, and Adou Thiero is out for at least another few weeks with an MCL sprain. Even the frontcourt is looking shaky—Deandre Ayton and Jaxson Hayes are both listed as questionable. If those two can’t go, the Lakers are going to be incredibly small against a Portland team that loves to crash the boards.
Why the Blazers are Actually Favorites
You might think "Lakers vs. Blazers" and automatically assume LA has the edge. Think again. Vegas actually has the Trail Blazers as 2.5-point favorites tonight.
Portland (20-22) isn't exactly a powerhouse, but they play better at home (11-10 at the Moda Center). They’re led by Deni Avdija, though even he’s a bit of a question mark right now with back soreness. If Avdija sits, the weight falls on Shaedon Sharpe, who’s been lighting it up lately.
🔗 Read more: How to watch vikings game online free without the usual headache
The real danger for LA? Sophomore center Donovan Clingan. He’s been averaging a double-double, and if the Lakers’ big men are out, Clingan is going to have a field day in the paint.
What to Expect Tonight
Tonight's game is the start of a brutal stretch where the Lakers play nine out of ten games on the road. It’s a "make or break" period for their seeding in the West. If they can’t steal a win in Portland without Luka, the flight to Denver for Tuesday's game is going to feel very, very long.
Look for the Lakers to lean heavily on their bench—they have to. Someone like Gabe Vincent or Max Christie needs to have a career night to keep this competitive. The over/under is set at 224.5, which suggests the oddsmakers expect some scoring, but without the primary playmakers on the floor, it could easily turn into a defensive grind.
Actionable Steps for Lakers Fans
- Check the Final Injury Report: Keep an eye on the official Lakers Twitter (X) or the NBA app about 30 minutes before the 7:00 PM PST tip-off to see if Deandre Ayton is cleared to play.
- Sync Your Calendars: Remember that tomorrow, Sunday, Jan 18, is a back-to-back. The Lakers fly back to LA immediately after tonight's game to face the Toronto Raptors at 6:30 PM PST.
- Verify Your Stream: If you’re using Fubo or League Pass, log in early. There’s nothing worse than a "Location Services" error right as the ball is tipped.
- Dress the Part: If you care about the aesthetics, the Lakers are reportedly wearing their white "Association" uniforms tonight, while Portland is breaking out those "PDX Carpet" City Edition jerseys.
The road ahead is tough, and it starts tonight in the Pacific Northwest. Catch the game at 7:00 PM local time and see if the short-handed Lakers can find a way to surprise the doubters.